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The Complete GTA Games List in Order

Published

1 year ago

June 26, 2023

Considered to be one of the best video game franchises of all time, Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has gained some serious clout since its debut in 1997.

As new installments and expansions have been released over the years, it can be challenging to remember all the titles in the series, especially the ones worth your time.

So, in this article, we’ve collected all the GTA games in the series and listed them in chronological order, so all you have to do is read through and pick your favorites.

Let’s get into it, shall we?!

Here’s the complete GTA games list in order.

The Complete GTA Games List in Order

The list of GTA games and figures mentioned below have been compiled from various sources around the web, such as IMDB, Wikipedia & Tech 21 Century.

This is the complete GTA games list in order:

14. Grand Theft Auto – (1997)

Grand Theft Auto is an action-adventure video game, released for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows in 1997.

It’s the first installment in the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series and was developed by DMA Design and published by BMG Interactive.

The game allows players to take control of a criminal and complete a series of jobs for different syndicates throughout fictionalized versions of US cities.

Players complete levels by achieving the required score and have complete free-roam of the open-world environment, which means you’re able to do whatever you like alongside your job.

That can be anything from stealing cars to beating up innocent bystanders; the world is your oyster.

After the game was released in December 1997, it completely blew up and went on to become a massive commercial success, spawning an entire series of games, which are featured below.

13. Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969 – (1999)

Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 is the next installment in the GTA series.

This action-adventure game is one of two expansions for Grand Theft Auto. It was developed by Rockstar Canada, and published by Rockstar Games for Microsoft Windows, and the Sony PlayStation in 1999.

In this expansion, the mechanics of the game are relatively similar to the original title; however, it takes place in a real-life version of London during the 1960s, where players control a criminal that offers his services to various London gangsters.

Grand Theft Auto: London. 1969 was noted for reflecting British culture at the time and received mixed reviews upon release.

Despite the mixed reviews, it won a BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Award in 1999.

12. Grand Theft Auto: London, 1961 – (1999)

Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 is the second expansion to the original, and was released in the same year as GTA: London 1969.

It’s a freeware mission pack for 1969 and was developed by Rockstar Canada and published digitally by Rockstar Games on July 1st, 1999.

To play the game, you’re going to need the original title and the first expansion pack, 1969. And, just like the first expansion, it takes place in London but several years earlier.

The mission pack includes some brand new missions, twenty-two new vehicles, one new cutscene, and a brand new multiplayer “Deathmatch” map, which was based around the city of Manchester, United Kingdom.

As it’s only available to download, the game is less popular than the first expansion in the series and relies heavily on word of mouth and forums to build a following and drive sales.

11. Grand Theft Auto 2 – (1999)

Grand Theft Auto 2 is the next main installment in the Grand Theft Auto series.

It was developed by DMA Design and Tarantula Studios and published by Rockstar Games for Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation in October 1999.

It’s the second main installment in the series and the sequel to the original game, and pretty much follows the same kind of storyline as its predecessor.

Players control a criminal who conducts jobs for various crime syndicates around fictional futuristic cities, all while having free reign to do whatever they wish, due to the game’s open-world environment.

When Grand Theft Auto 2 was released, it was met with mixed reviews from critics, with the game’s graphics being the main point of critique, as they’re remarkably similar to the original.

However, the PlayStation version sold more than 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom and therefore received a “Platinum” sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA).

10. Grand Theft Auto III – (2001)

Coming in at number ten on our GTA games list is Grand Theft Auto III.

As its name implies, it’s the third main installment in the GTA series and was developed by DMA Design and published by Rockstar Games in 2001.

This time around, the game is set in the fictional city of Liberty, which is loosely based on New York City. Again, like it’s predecessors, players control a former criminal and try to complete a series of missions and objectives while having free roam of the games open world.

It’s played from a third-person perspective and navigated, either on foot or by a vehicle of your choice, depending on if you feel like robbing anyone.

Upon release, Grand Theft Auto III received critical acclaim, with praise directed toward its concept and gameplay.

It went on to become the best-selling video game of 2001 and is considered by many critics to be one of the most significant titles of the sixth generation of video games, and, one of the greatest video games of all time!

9. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – (2002)

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2002.

It was released for the PlayStation 2 and is played in the usual third-person perspective, and navigated on foot or by vehicle.

In this installment, the game is set in 1986 within the fictional Vice City, which is loosely based on the city of Miami, Florida.

It follows mobster, Tommy Vercetti, after his release from prison, and follows him throughout the game as he gets caught up in a bad drug deal and seeks out those who are responsible.

While doing so, he also builds his criminal empire by taking over all the other criminal gangs in Vice City.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City received critical acclaim upon release for its open-world design, music, and gameplay.

It went on to become the best-selling video game of 2002 and has sold over 17.5 million copies worldwide.

8. Grand Theft Auto: Advance – (2004)

The eighth title on our GTA games list is Grand Theft Auto: Advance.

It was developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Rockstar Games in October 2004 for the Game Boy Advance.

This version of GTA follows a new protagonist, called Mike, as he works his way through various jobs for different crime bosses and gangs throughout fictional Liberty City.

This pays the bills, but his real focus is to investigate the mysterious death of his partner, and he slowly but surely gets to the bottom of it.

Like the other games in the series so far, Grand Theft Auto: Advance is played from a top-down perspective and traversed on foot or by vehicle.

The game received mixed reviews upon release, with critics focusing on the game’s music and graphics as both a plus and a drawback.

7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – (2004)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the seventh title in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the follow-up to GTA: Vice City.

It was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation 2 in 2004.

San Andreas follows the story of Carl “CJ” Johnson, a former gangster who’s made his way back to San Andreas after hearing of his mother’s death.

Unfortunately, after saying his piece, he gets himself involved with the wrong crowd and must complete a series of missions to survive.

San Andreas was met with critical acclaim upon release and quickly became the fifth-highest ranked game in PlayStation 2’s history, selling more than 12 million units by March 2005.

6. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories – (2006)

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is the tenth installment in the GTA series.

It was developed by Rockstar Leeds and Rockstar North and was published by Rockstar Games in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Vice City Stories is set in fictional Vice City and is a prequel to GTA: Vice City, taking place two years prior, in 1984.

It features new areas and locations that are different from Vice City and includes returning characters like Victor Vance.

The main story revolves around Victor and Lance working together to build their own criminal empire, beating down opposing gangs and anyone else that chooses to stand in their way.

Vice City Stories received generally favorable reviews upon release and won IGN’s award for the best-licensed soundtrack on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2006, and the “Best Handheld Game” at the 2007 Golden Joystick Awards.

5. Grand Theft Auto IV – (2008)

Grand Theft Auto IV is the eleventh title in the GTA series and the first main entry since Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

It was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2008.

This installment is set within Liberty City, a fictional city based on New York City. It follows Niko Bellic, a war veteran, as he attempts to escape from his past while dodging some rather unsightly loan sharks and gangsters.

The game is played from a third-person perspective, navigated on foot or by vehicle, and allows players total free roam of Liberty City, due to its open-world design.

Since its release in 2008, the game has become one of the best-selling PlayStation 3 games, is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and won several “Game of the Year” awards.

4. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned – (2009)

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is an expansion pack that was developed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows versions of Grand Theft Auto IV.

The game was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2009.

It’s the third expansion pack in the GTA series, after GTA: London 1961, and the twelfth release overall.

Johnny Klebitz is the protagonist and President of the Alderney chapter of “The Lost MC,” a motorcycle club that featured in lots of missions throughout GTA IV.

Johny tries to keep the chapter running but is always under threat from rival gang members, drug-running conflicts, and enemy warfare.

Upon release, The Lost and Damned received universal acclaim for the Xbox 360 version and favorable reviews for the PlayStation 3 title.

3. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony – (2009)

The third title on our complete Grand Theft Auto games list is GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Following on from the previous titles on the list, this is the second expansion pack available for PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox 360 versions of GTA IV.

The game was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2009.

The Ballad of Gay Tony follows ex-northwood Dominican drug dealer, Fernando Lopez’s exploits as he helps overcome several issues the “Prince” is having in the criminal underworld, including drugs, debt, and the Mafia conflicts.

Upon release, the game received positive reviews from critics and was awarded the “Best DLC” award at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards.

2. Grand Theft Auto: China Town Wars – (2009)

Grand Theft Auto: China Town Wars is the second GTA game to be released on handheld consoles, and the thirteenth game in the Grand Theft Auto Series overall.

The game was developed by Rockstar Leeds alongside Rockstar North and was published by Rockstar Games for the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2009.

This installment sees players follow a young Triad called Huang Lee, as he tries to locate a stolen artifact, but quickly finds himself becoming involved in the drug game and dealing with a battle for power amongst the city’s Triads.

The game is set in Liberty City in an HD universe and is played from a top-down perspective.

The Nintendo DS version received critical acclaim upon release and is currently the highest-rated Nintendo DS game ever, managing to reach number 5 in the UK top 40 upon release.

1. Grand Theft Auto V – (2013)

Topping our complete GTA games list is Grand Theft Auto V.

The 2013 action-adventure game was developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games in 2013.

It can be played from a third-person or first-person perspective and allows players total free roam of its open-world, on foot, or by vehicle.

The game is set within the fictional state of San Andreas, which is based on Southern California, and follows the developments of three criminals as they commit a series of heists while under the watchful eye of a government agency and crime kingpins.

Upon release, the game smashed industry sales records and became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, grossing over $800 million on its first day and over $1 billion in sales in its first three days.

Grand Theft Auto V is the second best-selling video game of all time!

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our complete GTA games list in order.

Even we were surprised at how many GTA games there are.

We’re yet to play all of them ourselves but will undoubtedly give them a try, but being sticklers for routine, we’ll continue playing GTA V and GTA San Andreas for now.

Here’s a quick recap of the complete GTA games list in order: